It seems we can't do anything now days without a password. We log in / we log out / we're asked our user id name and our password. I am wondering what's going to happen if we all have a moment, a memory lapse, an overload of our brain cells, and we all just go blank on our passwords. Will the world stop spinning? Will the lights go out? Will cable disconnect? Will our "land" lines and cell phones cease to exist? Will everything just stop?
Oh my! I can see it now, I arrive home and my DVR has not taped my shows, eek - oh no, oh wait it'll be okay, I can go to FANCAST.com or HULU.com and I can watch them there. Eeeek oh wait, I've forgotten my password for my computer and can't log in, how on earth can I continue to exist on this earth without my lap top? Whew - wait, it's okay, I can use my cell phone and connect to the Internet. Oh no, I've forgotten my password on my cell phone, what will I do ? How can I continue without a connection to the outside world???? No cell coverage, no emails, no Internet, no TV, no cable, oh my what has happened?
It's 1965, I'm 4 years old. We don't have cable, we don't have cell phones, no laptops or Internet (whatever that is), and we have a "land" line but it's a party line. I know some of you are thinking, what in the world is a party line phone, sounds fun - can I have one? Well, a party line phone is where several people "share" the same line. Party line means you can pick up your phone and hear a conversation that doesn't involve you. (Gives a new meaning to wire tapping and eavesdropping). Also, my TV doesn't have a remote control, and it's not a flat screen or HDTV or Blue-Ray Definition, it's a TV that's the size of a 26 inch in a console cabinet that would hold a 52 inch TV. Also, I only have 3 channels - ABC/NBC/CBS. Believe it or not, the TV channels would actually go OFF the air around midnight, how did we cope with that ???
I forgot one of my passwords recently and had to answer a series of questions that apparently I had randomly picked and answered previously. Question 1: Mother's maiden name, okay that's easy. Question 2: Your favorite movie: Okay, that's only between 2-3 movies. Question 3: your favorite pet. Okay that could be based upon the time frame I set up this account, would that be a pet from the past or a present pet. Oh yea, and now remember, your answers are case sensitive. Oh great, was I in an "all caps mode" that day, or a lower case mode, or a first letter uppercase and the rest lower case? Oh no, I only have 4 chances before I'm locked out of the system ! Okay, great, I'm locked out, so I have to call customer service to speak to a representative.
The following is a replay of the phone call: "Thank you for calling *****, please listen to the following menu closely before making your selection. For English press 1, Para español aprieta 2." (it doesn't allow me to press 1 until it has given the same instructions in Spanish). At this point I start to wonder a few things, why does it only give you the choice of English or Spanish? What about the Chinese? 对汉语评论 3. What about Dutch? There are other nationalities living in America besides English and Spanish. So if we're going to offer options, I think we need to cover them all ! Oh yea, back to the phone call. After finally being able to press 1 for English, I can continue. "To better serve you please verbally answer the following questions. Please state your name. (Terri). I'm sorry, that answer was not understood, were you trying to say Mary? (No). Please state your name (now, in a louder voice - TERRI). Thank you Terri. Now is this the number you are calling about ###-###-####? (No). Alright, please enter or verbally say the number you are calling about. (601-###-####). Thank you, you entered 601-###-####, is this correct? (Yes). Please choose from the following menu so we can further assist your call. Choose 1 for bill balance, 2 for technical support, 3 for claims, 4 for long distance, 5 for (who can remember). (Okay, none of the choices are what I want - I want to talk to an actual person, so I choose 0.) I'm sorry, you have pressed an invalid key. Please choose from the following menu. Choose 1 for bill balance, choose" (okay you get the point - it's pointless).
By this point in my selection I have forgotten why I called, who I called, and why I even care. What happened to customer service where you talked to an individual? What can a computer tell me, how can a computer make me feel my problem is being addressed, being handled, and can make ME feel better that it's resolved? Last time I checked, metal boxes (computers/TVs/printers/etc) have no way of having feelings or real thoughts. Only programmed answers.
Is the world better now that we're so advanced? Isn't it great to pop a hotdog in the microwave for 15 seconds compared to boiling it for 30 minutes? Isn't it great to record your shows indefinitely rather than having to be home and watch it through the commercials or having to miss it all together? Isn't it great walking into the gym and "swiping" your card, or placing your thumb on the finger scan than walking in and giving your name? Isn't it great walking up to your car, hitting a button to enter because the "smart key" is in your pocket? Isn't it great just pushing a button to start your car without a key? Wow, technology.
I remember actually baking a cake once upon a time, using cake flour, milk, eggs, sifting, beating by hand and cooking a cake. Then there were cake mixes, all I did was add water/oil and eggs. And now I just pick up the phone, place an order and poof - there's my cake.
Back in the day if someone had used the term "speed dial" we would think they really knew how to dial a rotary phone really fast. Yep, dialing a few phone calls from a rotary phone and your fingers would have carpal tunnel syndrome for real!
My brain is a jumbled mess of passwords/codes/sign-on ids and more. But yet, I have no memory of phone numbers, that's what my cell phone is for and if I lose it, I'd be totally lost in this world. I'd be like a zombie wandering around wondering how I could call with having no numbers, it's a frightening thought! Have you ever gone through the day and realized your cell phone hasn't rung or beeped showing a new text all day and you wondered if your phone was still working? Or maybe all those in your phone all went to party somewhere and left you behind? Or they're all on a yacht soaking up the sun and left you here to wonder where they are and why they've not called or texted? When I think of texting, I think of my mom. She never got or understood this function, and often called it tex-mex.
We can email/fax/text/ etc in an instant. We use our phone to take pictures, record videos and conversations, text and even make a phone call. Do people still hand write letters and buy stamps?
I still have to ask the question, "has technology improved our lives or has technology made us lazy and less involved"? I think there are times we need to "go back in the day", go visit someone in person to say hi, have a family gathering, a family/friend reunion and talk about the good old days. I think we all need some reflection on our lives both past and present. We all need to use more customer service, friend service and relative service and be better people.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Back in the day ....
I don't want to frighten anyone, but "back in the day" we didn't have computers, video games and more than 3 channels on our tv's. But, we survived and actually used our imaginations! We played softball with family and friends, played cops and robbers, cowboys & Indians, and hide and go seek. When the sun started setting we'd wait for the bug man to drive by with his fog of spray for mosquitoes. No one thought of words such as toxic and cancer, we'd play in the fog and enjoy "disappearing" for a few minutes in all the smoke.
I even remember this old black man named "Cicero", that traveled down our street selling pots/pans and other essentials. We loved hearing his mule and wagon coming and we'd run down to the end of the driveway to wait for him to arrive. He always had such neat items on his wagon, and always had something new each time he stopped. I often wondered what became of Cicero and his mule.
I grew up in a Baptist church, there was a time when it was a thriving church we were there every time the doors were opened. We enjoyed spending our Saturdays on the bus ministry, visiting the neighborhood, witnessing, and signing people up for the bus ride on Sundays. I spent many Sundays working with the children's ministry, doing hand puppets, and spent every Summer working in VBS. "Back in the day" we had Training Union on Sunday evenings before church, and sometimes we spent that time going to the local Dairy Queen and returning for a short lesson before church.
Our Wednesday night services meant pot luck suppers at church, and prayer meeting to follow. Our church finally built a Family Life Building and we had skating, foosh ball and bumper ball tables. We weren't allowed to say the word "pool tables", apparently that was associated with bars and wasn't a good word lol. So we never were allowed to have a pool table. Friday nights and Saturday nights were spent skating. Mr. Carter ran the skating events, he taught us how to jump objects, how to skate backwards, and how to do turns. There were times the guys would play basketball on skates, it was quite exciting to watch and probably rather dangerous.
If you were the age of thirteen, you automatically played on the women's church softball team. Some took it way serious, and church softball is quite competitive. I was more into being there, seeing if there were any cute guys watching, etc. I usually played center field and would ask to play left field where few balls would come because it was okay with me if I saw little or no action on the softball field.
I'm mainly writing today's blog in memory of a friend that was a fabulous softball player, she could hit, catch, and knew how to throw a ball! She was full of personality, full of character & I can hear her voice today telling me to wake up! Most of the time I was absent from play lol my thoughts were elsewhere, and most times I was there to make the numbers even. Brenda usually played shortshop or 2nd base and I can see her now with her glove ready, in the correct position to catch the ball. I know that if there is softball game in heaven that Brenda is already decked out and ready to play. We're going to miss her here on earth, but I know she's in a far better place, and heaven just got a little more lively with her presence.
In memory of Brenda Nutt Norris - may your days of heaven be filled with fun filled days on the softball field and I know there is a celebration going on up there today. "Batter up - let's play ball!"
I even remember this old black man named "Cicero", that traveled down our street selling pots/pans and other essentials. We loved hearing his mule and wagon coming and we'd run down to the end of the driveway to wait for him to arrive. He always had such neat items on his wagon, and always had something new each time he stopped. I often wondered what became of Cicero and his mule.
I grew up in a Baptist church, there was a time when it was a thriving church we were there every time the doors were opened. We enjoyed spending our Saturdays on the bus ministry, visiting the neighborhood, witnessing, and signing people up for the bus ride on Sundays. I spent many Sundays working with the children's ministry, doing hand puppets, and spent every Summer working in VBS. "Back in the day" we had Training Union on Sunday evenings before church, and sometimes we spent that time going to the local Dairy Queen and returning for a short lesson before church.
Our Wednesday night services meant pot luck suppers at church, and prayer meeting to follow. Our church finally built a Family Life Building and we had skating, foosh ball and bumper ball tables. We weren't allowed to say the word "pool tables", apparently that was associated with bars and wasn't a good word lol. So we never were allowed to have a pool table. Friday nights and Saturday nights were spent skating. Mr. Carter ran the skating events, he taught us how to jump objects, how to skate backwards, and how to do turns. There were times the guys would play basketball on skates, it was quite exciting to watch and probably rather dangerous.
If you were the age of thirteen, you automatically played on the women's church softball team. Some took it way serious, and church softball is quite competitive. I was more into being there, seeing if there were any cute guys watching, etc. I usually played center field and would ask to play left field where few balls would come because it was okay with me if I saw little or no action on the softball field.
I'm mainly writing today's blog in memory of a friend that was a fabulous softball player, she could hit, catch, and knew how to throw a ball! She was full of personality, full of character & I can hear her voice today telling me to wake up! Most of the time I was absent from play lol my thoughts were elsewhere, and most times I was there to make the numbers even. Brenda usually played shortshop or 2nd base and I can see her now with her glove ready, in the correct position to catch the ball. I know that if there is softball game in heaven that Brenda is already decked out and ready to play. We're going to miss her here on earth, but I know she's in a far better place, and heaven just got a little more lively with her presence.
In memory of Brenda Nutt Norris - may your days of heaven be filled with fun filled days on the softball field and I know there is a celebration going on up there today. "Batter up - let's play ball!"
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Being Single
I'm not sure why people think being single is so fantastic, yes I'll admit it's great in a lot of ways, but then other ways it's not so great.
For example, if there's a bug - who do you call? Well, there's not a guy in the house so you have to dispose of the bug yourself! Ugh ! Then there is garbage duty, being single it means it's ALWAYS your responsibility. Sleeping alone, that's not real fun either ! And then, there are things like a squeaky ceiling fan, an outlet in need of repair, a light switch in need of replacement - all those "little" things that married people take for granted.
On the other hand, in marriage there is the sharing thing ... sharing a bathroom / sharing a razor (ugh) / extra towels everywhere, more clothes to wash lol, sleeping with someone all the time, and having someone around you 24/7 (or so it may seem like it)!
Then I could get into the dating world - oh geez, it's not the glam as it seems, it's rough out there at times ! There are times as I'm getting dressed to go meet someone for dinner my thoughts are "Am I wasting makeup for this date?" There are times when I return home I feel that way. Some days I feel like I can't do it any more lol I'm giving up the dating, then I think - okay, maybe one more time! I keep thinking that maybe one day the right one will be out there, the one that meets all my requirements, and one that I can see spending all my todays and tomorrows with, and then I wake up and realize it was just a dream lol.
Seriously, I do believe there are good marriages, I've seem some, been around those "happy" couples and think "I want something like that". And then, I'm around some that I think "geez louise, I'm so HAPPY I'm single and not in THAT relationship" lol.
People ask me at times do I want to marry again one day since it's been 19 years since I've been married. I really do want to get married one day to the right person, at the right time, and after I've had a chance to really get to know them. But ... I am not in any hurry, and I'm not on a time schedule.
I know God has a plan for me whether it's me staying single, or me being married. Maybe I'm meant to be single, who knows? Until then, I'll keep giving it a chance and keep seeing what's out there in the dating world and who knows, maybe one day I'll say "I do".
For example, if there's a bug - who do you call? Well, there's not a guy in the house so you have to dispose of the bug yourself! Ugh ! Then there is garbage duty, being single it means it's ALWAYS your responsibility. Sleeping alone, that's not real fun either ! And then, there are things like a squeaky ceiling fan, an outlet in need of repair, a light switch in need of replacement - all those "little" things that married people take for granted.
On the other hand, in marriage there is the sharing thing ... sharing a bathroom / sharing a razor (ugh) / extra towels everywhere, more clothes to wash lol, sleeping with someone all the time, and having someone around you 24/7 (or so it may seem like it)!
Then I could get into the dating world - oh geez, it's not the glam as it seems, it's rough out there at times ! There are times as I'm getting dressed to go meet someone for dinner my thoughts are "Am I wasting makeup for this date?" There are times when I return home I feel that way. Some days I feel like I can't do it any more lol I'm giving up the dating, then I think - okay, maybe one more time! I keep thinking that maybe one day the right one will be out there, the one that meets all my requirements, and one that I can see spending all my todays and tomorrows with, and then I wake up and realize it was just a dream lol.
Seriously, I do believe there are good marriages, I've seem some, been around those "happy" couples and think "I want something like that". And then, I'm around some that I think "geez louise, I'm so HAPPY I'm single and not in THAT relationship" lol.
People ask me at times do I want to marry again one day since it's been 19 years since I've been married. I really do want to get married one day to the right person, at the right time, and after I've had a chance to really get to know them. But ... I am not in any hurry, and I'm not on a time schedule.
I know God has a plan for me whether it's me staying single, or me being married. Maybe I'm meant to be single, who knows? Until then, I'll keep giving it a chance and keep seeing what's out there in the dating world and who knows, maybe one day I'll say "I do".
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